UN General Assembly cultural event will spotlight efforts to end violence against women

Date: 05 June 2012

New York, 5 June — The President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, is hosting a Special Cultural Event in the GA Hall on Wednesday, June 6th, featuring the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO), with the aim of promoting UN Women and specifically boosting support for the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

The President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and UN Women Executive Director Madame Michelle Bachelet will all speak at the event. UN Goodwill Ambassadors Mira Sorvino and Nicole Kidman will also make contributions.

It is estimated that as many as six out of ten women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence, and UN Women, the youngest member of the UN family, manages the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The fund provides grants to local initiatives around the world to help address this pandemic of violence. This year it is focusing on supporting efforts to help women and girls in conflict, post-conflict and transitional settings.

UN Women also coordinates the UN Secretary-General campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women to raise global awareness and affect policy change. The President of the General Assembly is calling for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to address this problem.

Qatar Foundation, chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nassser, who is co-sponsoring the event with the State of Qatar, is working tirelessly to improve the lives of women around the globe, through education, empowerment of women and by addressing issues ranging from human trafficking and sexual exploitation to the eradication of poverty and hunger faced by rural women.

The occasion will also serve as a celebration of the Sixty-Sixth Session of the General Assembly under the presidency of H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, whose tenure has witnessed critical and historic events in the Middle East and North Africa, as well efforts to boost global economic recovery and promote a better sustainable development agenda for our planet.

For further information on this special event, please contact:
Nihal Saad (Ms.), Spokesperson for the President of the GA: saadn[at]un.org, Cell: 646-416-4594 or
Ben Malor - Communications Adviser: malor[at]un.org, Cell: 917-842-7275